Support for Hochfelder

Lois Weiss - Between the Bricks

Ad am Hochfelder was the baby-faced boy wonder who at the top of his game owned part of a Midtown office portfolio worth nearly $3 billion.

Now, he's been indicted for allegedly forging documents and stealing millions of dollars from investors and lenders. The multiple charges come with possible prison terms of up to 25 years.

Some say he's getting his just desserts for committing crimes and embarrassing the industry.

But other business colleagues and friends, whom the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has accused him of victimizing, have written letters in support of Hochfelder. We've reviewed documents that detail his alleged good works and stress that he doesn't deserve time in jail.

His best man, Ned Dubofsky, wrote to the judge that, contrary to the DA's claims, Dubofsky wasn't a victim and never lost money to Hochfelder.

"It is disturbing how the District Attorney can make incorrect statements in court and to the press," Dubofsky wrote.

Hochfelder is engaged to be remarried and is consulting on deals for Heritage Realty's Michael Aryea, who told us, "What good would it do if he was unable to work? His intentions are to make money and pay down his creditors. That's from the bottom of his heart."

In 2004, Hochfelder turned himself in to authorities, confessing that he had forged signatures on items like loan documents to raise millions to buy out his real estate partner, Richard Kalikow.

The DA has accused Hochfelder of using ill-gotten money to travel on private jets and pay private school tuition -- charges he and his attorney vigorously deny.

"All the money went to Richard," Hochfelder has told friends. "Unlike what the District Attorney is saying, I didn't take a dime, and I've paid back $15 million and continue to do so."

Hochfelder was advised by counsel not to comment to The Post.

In an e-mail, his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said "Adam did the right thing by reporting his own conduct to the authorities and paying back over 80 percent of the money he borrowed under allegedly false pretenses. Ironically, he has the support of the people he allegedly victimized, who continue to conduct business with him. He has paid them back and will continue to do so."

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The Queen of Skyscrapers is leading the pack with several new offerings -- almost like the good old days.

Darcy Stacom of CB Richard Ellis, and her colleague Bill Shanahan, are bringing two more office buildings to market, Real Estate Finance & Investment reported.

Because of the worldwide interest in New York City office buildings, Stacom believes the Hines-owned 600 Lexington Ave., which totals 282,000 square feet, could sell for well over $700 a square foot. Hines paid a mere $91.6 million -- $329 a square foot -- in 2004 for the 1985-era 36-story tower.